27
Mar 2013
On March 3rd, PBV held an event called “Introduction to Disaster Volunteer Training: Training for Foreigners Living/Working in the Shinjuku Area” in Totsuka, near where PBV’s Tokyo office is located.
26
Mar 2013
PBV’s President Takashi Yamamoto and Programme Officer Yasuhiro Ueshima participated in the “Drill for Rescue Activities by Volunteers inside/outside of Shizuoka Prefecture” (2nd & 3rd March 2013).
23
Mar 2013
The Fukushima Youth Ambassadors, 12 junior high school students (ages 13-14) from Minamisoma City, are departing for Australia today! The 12 youth will visit Melbourne for a programme of educational and cultural exchange with local students and citizen’s groups. This will be an opportunity to experience intercultural understanding workshops, learn about environmental issues through outdoor activities, and practise English. In this healthy, dynamic and creative environment they will learn new skills, enjoy new experiences and gain a fresh perspective on the future, invaluable to them as they struggle to consider the future of their disaster-affected community.
19
Mar 2013
The Hyogo Framework for Action 2005 – 2015 (HFA) is a 10-year plan to make the world safer by building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters. The HFA came out of the UN World Conference on Disaster Reduction 2005 (WCDR), a milestone event to increase the profile of disaster risk reduction (DRR).
In the lead up to the UN World Conference on Disaster Reduction to be held in Japan in 2015, Peace Boat’s Disaster Relief Volunteer Center will be attending international preparative conferences to share our experiences and give recommendations for the post-HFA 2015 environment.
16
Mar 2013
We interviewed another fisherman whose family is hosting participants in the “Now, Here Project” – Mr Takahashi Michio (56). Mr Takahashi was a specialist in oyster farming, and has changed to seaweed farming since the disaster.
16
Mar 2013
The “Now, Here Project” was launched in January 2013. This is an interview with one of the hosting fishing families about the project, Mr Abe Kazuhiro (49) from Fukkiura, Oshika Peninsuka, Ishinomaki, who is specialised in Oyster Farming!
16
Mar 2013
Peace Boat has recently launched the “Now, Here Project”, inspired by the worldwide WWOOF movement. This aims to contribute to the regeneration of the local economy by finding ways to match the needs of the local people with the enthusiasm and energy of young people from outside of the region. The project acts as a liaison between the fishing families who need help with their businesses and people who wish to stay with them and support their farming in return for food and accommodation.
11
Mar 2013
Today marks two years since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami and the subsequent nuclear disaster.
Peace Boat and the Disaster Relief Volunteer Centre would would like to express our deepest sorrow and condolences for all those who suffered losses and continue to be affected by the disaster.
09
Mar 2013
Two years have passed since March 11, 2013. The city of Ishinomaki began a campaign to commemorate March 9 as a day of gratitude (as the pronounciation for 3 (San) and 9 (Kyu) in Japanese sounds like “thank you”).
The “3-9 Letter Campaign” initiated by the local community is an opportunity to thank all of the volunteers who came to help after the earthquake, and all the people who have visited Ishinomaki for travel or to attend events. A letter from a person you met in Ishinomaki may come to you too.
The first letter from Ishinomaki Mayor Kameyama Hiroshi is featured in this post.
11
Feb 2013
2013 has begun Peace Boat’s Disaster Relief Volunteer Centre’s respective projects are well underway. These projects all correspond to disaster relief, meaning that the project plan is being constantly reconsidered and revised as it is being implemented. It is important for our volunteers and also the organisation itself to remember to “think flexibly, and move according to the circumstances.” This report gives an overview of the main ongoing activities for 2013, including those which are now accepting volunteers, donations and other support.